Why isn't there a pure soccer channel?

[Grady08]

Hey,

I realize that ESPN has rights for MLS and UEFA matches and things like that, but tonight, the MLS playoffs continue and we are treated to the Women's Nike Cup, which is fine, I enjoy women's soccer as well...but as for something that has a little more meaning, wouldn't broadcasting game 3's in the MLS playoffs hold a little more credence than the Nike Cup?

I believe that Fox Sports World is a god send to those of us of the Footy religion, but if golf can have their channel and the NBA now has one, are you telling me that the powers that be cannot put together some type of soccer channel? Even two because of so many leagues and games? I find this truly hard to believe.

Everyone in the sport of soccer knows that we are getting hosed by ESPN and will continue to do so until the contract is up and the league can find a new group, however, there should be no excuse to not air both days of Champions League play and instead show cheerleading or a college football game that was played three days ago that everyone knows the outcome of.

I know that it's all demand and ratings, and there is supposedly 'no support' for the sport, blah, blah, but with the money that seems to be supporting soccer, doesn't someone have a better idea? MLS fights for respect and continually loses with it's own 'broadcasting partner' and the leagues overseas hardly get anything at all...what's wrong with this picture? I certainly don't have all the answers, but there should be a better solution. What do you all think? I know this is a thread that has been beaten to death, but I don't recall one suggesting this...if there has been, my apologies...

Peace...

[HalfManHalfAmazing]

I know that it's all demand and ratings, and there is supposedly 'no support' for the sport, blah, blah, but with the money that seems to be supporting soccer, doesn't someone have a better idea?

If you know that there is no demand for such a channel and that it would pull in almost no ratings, and therefore no ad support and therefore couldn't exist - Why even ask? Soccer will never be viable on TV because of the lack of ad revenue. I don't understand how it gets airtime on European TV as there is no time for ads either. Do they show it as a public service?

[Dr. Wankler]

Over/under on when this moves? I say 6.

[Grady08]

What I meant by no demand is that the networks can say that all they want, but I think everyone here would agree that if a channel were to be created, people would do anything possible to get it. Ad support could come from a variety of sources...club sponsors, team outfitters and such, but it would take a lot of work. The problem we face, that we have always faced, is that in Europe there isn't a whole lot of competition for viewership and such because they don't have college football, basketball, the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB and so forth...thus the ad revenue can be a little more spread out...I guess...I'm not a TV guy and I don't know the European sports market hardly at all...

[Grady08]

Thanks Dr. Wankler...I appreciate that...I know it might be a fruitless topic, but I was just curious and wanted other opinions...

[Dr. Wankler]

Originally posted by Grady08
Thanks Dr. Wankler...I appreciate that...I know it might be a fruitless topic, but I was just curious and wanted other opinions...

Actually, the fruifulness or fruitlessness is for others to determine... it's just that this is more "Business and Media" fare than "Yanks Abroad" fare, I'm guessing.

[Grady08]

Good point...I hadn't been aware of that...my bad...as for ESPN3...ummmm, ok....

[Father Ted]

This one must rank up there with the Pro-Mathis/Anti-Mathis threads. What thread number is this? I'd say about 103?

[Grady08]

Sorry if this takes up valuable space Ted...

[SoFla Metro]

Originally posted by Grady08
What I meant by no demand is that the networks can say that all they want, but I think everyone here would agree that if a channel were to be created, some people would do anything possible to get it, but not nearly enough people (as evidenced by existing soccer ratings) to keep it from failing miserably italics mine

[monster]

Can it happen? Sure. Is the process under way? Probably. Will it happen anytime soon? I doubt it. I'd say 2004 would be optimistic.

The Tennis Channel idea hatched in August 2001. The thing still hasn't hit the air yet, was originally slated to cost anywhere from $30-100M. They have signed deals to make it available to 38 percent of the cable subscribers in the U.S., but I have a feeling that means those systems will be able to carry it if they want to.

Whether they choose to is another matter. Time Warner has committed to putting it on all of their systems in the first year after launch, but it will be a digital sports package, so it might be fee-based. I don't have TW so I don't know how their digital sports tier works.

They are set to launch later this year. I think this will be huge for people like SUM, who have designs on their own channel. I think Anschutz may be able one day to leverage his media interests to get soccer on cable. But he could also realize that it is just a losing battle.

[cREWBILLY]

To who it may concern. Instead of trashing the thread topic how about just reading what the man has to say and moving along. The vastly more experienced and knowlegeable big soccer poster act gets old quick.

[cREWBILLY]

Originally posted by Mike Segroves


Just as....

How about a soccer channel...

ESPN Conspiracy....

Jim Rome said this....

How about FOX....

How about NBC.....


all got tired 3 crashes ago.

Thanks for playing.
I rest my case.

[tcmahoney]

Calm down, people.

Newbies like Grady08 come to BigSoccer for discussion on topics that aren't exactly on the A-list at the office water cooler, and even though some of these topics are tired -- Jim Rome complaints are at the top of that list -- it's still fresh to folks like Grady08. So if anyone wants to engage him in discussion, I'm all for that.

However, those who want to roll their eyes are certainly welcome to do so. But let's keep it civil. Thanks.

[Grady08]

I appreciate the support tc and others and again, as I have said, I know this is an old thread...but it was something that just popped up based on being upset with not being able to see any MLS playoff games this evening...

On another note, in terms of posting, yes, I am a newbie...on the other, I have read these boards for quite some time and responses like those of cREWBILLY are those that don't have much to add to these thoughts, positive or negative, so I don't worry about them...

I could see Uncle Phil getting behind a soccer channel, that is if his potential legal woes with Qwest don't distract him or cause him some major problems, but as Monster said, it could happen, just not in the near future...all we can do is hope and continue to support our respective teams...

Peace

[whirlwind]

Originally posted by tcmahoney
Calm down, people.

Newbies like Grady08 come to BigSoccer for discussion on topics that aren't exactly on the A-list at the office water cooler, and even though some of these topics are tired -- Jim Rome complaints are at the top of that list -- it's still fresh to folks like Grady08. So if anyone wants to engage him in discussion, I'm all for that.


Rack him!

Oh, wait...

[tcmahoney]

Originally posted by whirlwind


Rack him!

Oh, wait...

:D

[Elninho]

There's likely to be enough demand to justify a soccer channel, but what's likely to be the biggest obstacle is broadcast rights.

A soccer channel would likely have few problems getting broadcast rights for US leagues, but MLS/A-League/WUSA/NCAA/Nats can't keep a soccer channel afloat year-round. They'll sustain a soccer channel through the summer and fall at best. During the winter and spring, there has to be something to show... and besides, it's hard to be a credible soccer channel without at least having highlights from Europe.

In short, we'd need to have rights to show European matches, and it would also be a good thing to have rights to Latin American leagues since they get higher ratings than anything else in the US. The problem: soccer is big business in Europe, so rights cost $$$, and showing Mexican league matches would involve dealing with Televisa. Neither is easy for a startup network, and I suspect that rights costs would sink a soccer network before it could get off the ground, unless St. Phil, Lamar Hunt, et al are willing to foot the bill.

[monster]

Originally posted by Elninho
There's likely to be enough demand to justify a soccer channel, but what's likely to be the biggest obstacle is broadcast rights.

A soccer channel would likely have few problems getting broadcast rights for US leagues, but MLS/A-League/WUSA/NCAA/Nats can't keep a soccer channel afloat year-round. They'll sustain a soccer channel through the summer and fall at best. During the winter and spring, there has to be something to show... and besides, it's hard to be a credible soccer channel without at least having highlights from Europe.

In short, we'd need to have rights to show European matches, and it would also be a good thing to have rights to Latin American leagues since they get higher ratings than anything else in the US. The problem: soccer is big business in Europe, so rights cost $$$, and showing Mexican league matches would involve dealing with Televisa. Neither is easy for a startup network, and I suspect that rights costs would sink a soccer network before it could get off the ground, unless St. Phil, Lamar Hunt, et al are willing to foot the bill.

We have a winner.

"The vision of Soccer United Marketing©, or SUM©, is to be one of the premier soccer organizations in the world," AEG President Tim Leiweke said. "In the near future, we intend this portfolio to include other soccer-related programming and marketing rights."

[rangers00]

Originally posted by Elninho
There's likely to be enough demand to justify a soccer channel, but what's likely to be the biggest obstacle is broadcast rights.

A soccer channel would likely have few problems getting broadcast rights for US leagues, but MLS/A-League/WUSA/NCAA/Nats can't keep a soccer channel afloat year-round. They'll sustain a soccer channel through the summer and fall at best. During the winter and spring, there has to be something to show... and besides, it's hard to be a credible soccer channel without at least having highlights from Europe.

In short, we'd need to have rights to show European matches, and it would also be a good thing to have rights to Latin American leagues since they get higher ratings than anything else in the US.

Then why do we need a separate soccer channel? I mean, these people don't recognize one when a soccer channel hit them on the head.

Fox Sports World

The sometimes use Rugby and Aussie football as program fillers, but it's a soccer channel from top to bottom.

And how much demand are there on a soccer channel, aka Fox Sports World? Based on the fact that Comcast is getting rid of FSW left and right without inducing a national outcry, the answer is obvious.